SUNDANCE!

Okay so I'm actually pretty pooped from my long day but I wanted to let everyone know how my first Sundance experience was.

Everyone keeps saying how mellow this year's fest is and it's most likely due to a couple of things: the inauguration and the economy. Main Street is usually so packed you can hardly move but today it was empty enough for a nice stroll in the sun. This is also the first year that it hasn't snowed during Sundance, according to the locals.


Here's a shot of Main Street. You can tell it's pretty quiet.





I started my day with Adventureland, which I really liked, it was funny and sweet. It will be in theatres in the next couple of months since it already had distribution before coming to Sundance. Greg Mottola directed this (he also did Superbad) and it stars Kristen Stewart Jesse Eisenberg, Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. When it was over Anna and I took the bus downtown for an early lunch at Zoom, a restaurant owned by Robert Redford. I had some delicious vegetarian chili and baked mac and cheese. Yum!!

As we moseyed about Main Street I had my first celeb sighting when I brushed shoulders with Liam Neeson as he walked by us! Actually I guess you could say my shoulder brushed his elbow- he is really tall!

Right after that a woman asked us if we would like to attend a panel about the film La Mission starring Benjamin Bratt, and we figured why not?! I don't have tickets to this film, but after seeing a clip and listening to the director and cast discuss the material, I'm interested in seeing it! It's about a very violent, macho-type guy living in the Mission district of San Fransisco who finds out that his son is gay. The cast and crew, including Peter Bratt, Benjamin's brother who wrote and directed the picture, talked about the film which was very interesting and then there was a "Q & A" which turned out to be very uninteresting. No one really asked any questions, people just raised their hands and told little stories about their own lives while everyone else just sat there thinking "Why are you telling everyone this?"



The Bratt brothers talking about La Mission. That's Benjamin on the left.




After walking around a bit more we took the bus back to my apartment to relax before heading out to see Adam starring Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne and Peter Gallagher. This film is in competition so everyone gets to vote on what they thought of it. I really liked this one, it's about a guy with Asbergers and his relationship with a woman who moves into his apartment building. There was also a "Q & A" after this with the stars of the film and the writer/ director, Max Mayer. This "Q & A" was better because people actually asked questions but then this one dumb guy basically told them that he didn't like the end of the movie and you could tell that the director and actors didn't really know what to say.


Here is Max Mayer speaking about Adam.







Hugh Dancy, who plays the title character, answered questions about the film. BTW- he is SO CUTE!!







Rose Byrne, who portrayed Beth, also talked to the audience.





Before the film started we spotted Claire Danes who I believe is dating Hugh Dancy. (LUCKY!!) I was determined to get a photo with her because as with most people of my generation, I'm a big fan of hers! She wasn't too thrilled about taking the photo it seemed, but I figure it must be hard when you are just trying to enjoy the festival and people keep stopping you for a photo op, so I guess I won't hold it against her.



Here's the photo. I look like a dumb ass but I'll blame that on the fact that there was a row of chairs in between Ms. Danes and me and the fact that the camera seemed to be on a bit of a delay. The movie star, however, looks flawless... go figure.


It was a fun day and I'm so glad that I get to experience the festival! I love going online at the end of the day to see which celebs are hanging out in my backyard. I love being among the first to see these films and I love being surrounded by all of these people who LOVE cinema!

It's a miracle, really, that movies- independent movies, especially- get made at all.
Nick Hornby

This is a miracle I am grateful for!